I wouldn't assume anything, you need to be a little more specific on the 'phone that comes from another country' thing...

If you're intending on getting a GSM phone from a buddy from Europe who was on Orange or some other carrier's network T-Mobile, whatever, check the freq and make sure it's compatible w/ US networks, GSM 850, 1900 vs Europe = 900, 1800...

As for the stores with unlocked devices, are these sold at the outright price? Would it be comparable to what we in the US sell ours for at an outright price? Last one, do you sign up for a contract when purchasing a Locked device? Thanks.

The problem with unlocked phones you bring to the US and use on US carriers , you will have problems with Data services. They are not set correctly to the carriers settings. You might have a fancy phone, but can`t send textmessages, pictures or check email.

Verizon is not GSM. So, the concept of unlocked/locked phones does not really apply to them. If you buy an overseas phone, or a phone from another US carrier for example, SMS will work. SMS settings are stored on the sim, so no need to change anything. MMS settings will need to be sent to the phone. Ans those are usually available on net or on the carriers website and will be sent to the phone automatically on request.

I bought a phone in England and took it to a shady looking shop that sold luggage and unlocked phones in Leicester Square, London. They said it would be 45 minutes but it took an hour and a half and when they brought the phone back, the back cover wasn't the same pink as the phone so I don't know what they did but it worked back home (except for the internet of course) so who cares